The Champions League Returns – Who’s the Smart Money On?

February 16, 2016

The days are getting longer; spring is just around the corner but more importantly for football fans, the Champions League returns after its winter break. Bet Advisor now marks your card on who’s hot, and who’s not; in European club football’s premier competition.

TOURNAMENT WINNERS

The betting market for the eventual tournament winners has changed little since the group stages ended in December. Barcelona remains the favourite, followed by Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Next up are Manchester City and Atletico Madrid but the real value could be a little further down the list, with Italian giants Juventus competitively priced on the best football betting sites and on a great run of form at the moment. Last season’s beaten finalists are aiming to go one better this year and despite their last 16 match-up with Bayern Munich, Massimo Allegri’s team could be the real surprise in the first round of knock-out games.

*Current Odds

Barcelona 3.50

Bayern Munich 3.75

Real Madrid 6.00

Manchester City/Atletico Madrid 13.00

Juventus 26.00

TOP GOALSCORER

Statistics don’t lie and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo stands head and shoulders above all the other contenders here. 11 goals from 25 shots on target so far in the competition, make him odds on favourite to receive the golden boot in May. His closest challenger looks to be Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, whose seven from 16 ratio so far is the best of the rest. Lionel Messi’s injury during the group stages (meaning he has only scored three goals so far in the competition) has pretty much ruled him out the betting market here but along with his Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, cannot be ignored in the grand scheme of things.

*Current Odds

Ronaldo 1.16

Lewandowski 7.00

Messi/Suarez 17.00

Muller 21.00

THE TWO FINALISTS

A favourite in most football bet predictions as we enter the knock-out phase is being able to name the eventual finalists and there’s plenty of value to be had here ahead of this week’s matches. The “dream final “for many people would be Barcelona v Bayern Munich, on paper arguably the two strongest teams in Europe right now. Probably the next most sought after final for neutrals would be the Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are yet to meet in a European final. For those punters who like long-shots, there’s some seriously good value to be had by placing your trust in there being an all-German or English final in Milan in May.

**Current Odds

Barcelona v Bayern Munich 6.00

Barcelona v Real Madrid 8.50

All German final 41.00

All English final 41.00

SPECIALITY BETS

We are constantly told that the Premier League is the most popular in the world, but when it comes to the Champions League, English clubs are often found wanting. There are good betting odds here for punters on both sides of the argument, such as no English side to make it into the quarter-final stage or alternatively, all the Premier League clubs to reach the last eight.

**Current Odds

Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all to fail to make it into the QF 8.00

All three of them to reach the QF 13.00

Follow our top tipsters here at BetAdvisor throughout the Champions League and discover their match-winning predictions.